Chapter 39

Return to Yínzi Hé City

-POV Kara-

About 2 months after we first set out to sell Master's slaves at auction, we set out once more. This time our total numbers are much smaller, though our fighting prowess is not any less. In total there are 5 of us. Along with my 3 sisters, we are using the former seer, currently new tigress as a mount.

Our tigress mount, her name Mù Lǎohǔ meaning Tigress, or separated into Wood Tiger, appropriate as she has a wood type Unique Physique, is herself using her flying sword to carry us all, sitting on her back, at high speed. Much faster than we could have run on our own, but at great expenditure of her own Qi. Because of this, she can only rush us for about a tea-time (15-20mins) before resting for an hour (120 mins).

Whenever she is 'resting', the 5 of us are all running toward our destination. Because we are resting when she carries us, we can easily cover 200 kilometers with each hour of running, but we also travel nearly 200 more with each flight.

Thus we make the full 1300 kilometer journey from the No-Shu forest's edge in just under 4 hours. A bit over half a day. That was over 5 times faster than when we returned. So when we reach the city an hour before dusk, we are all sweaty and hungry.

Unfortunately, the lines are longer than the first time, and we're not leading a 'fairy parade' in order to skip past them. So it takes a half hour for us to reach the gate, and when we do.

Guard) (mutters) "Damn filthy mongrels. Only good for being whores."

Kara) "Didn't your mother teach you manners? No, of course not. You have a face even a mother couldn't love. So she must've left you on the streets to be rid of you."

G) "YOU IMPUDENT BI-!"

Gate Captain) "SHUT IT DING DANG!!! MISTRESS KARA, are you here again to grace our auction house once more? I see you brought a fine Beast. It will likely bring a good price."

K) "That's mostly right, captain. Our Master has been quite busy practicing his pills. However our mount is not for sale."

GC) "Did you need an escort to the auction houses?"

K) "Thank you for your consideration, but no. First we'll need a good bath to remove the road-dust, and for that an inn to stay at. Then a good meal. It's been a long day of travel. If they are willing to meet after, that's fine. Otherwise tomorrow morning works well for us. First of course, we'll need to pay an entree fee?"

GC) (waves his hands) "Of course not! City Lord Yu has instructed me to give you a full-privilege guest pass as soon as you arrive. (handover jade card) With this you pay no taxes to enter our city, as well as our subordinate towns. There are other benefits listed here. (handover parchment) And so allow me to officially welcome you back into our city." (bow)

During this conversation, the first guard had begun turning an interesting shade of red.

Then green.

GC) "As for you, Ding. The last time Mistress Kara was in our city she had earned more in the Lord's auction house in one day than your whole family earned in the past millennium. For now you must apologize to the best of your ability. And afterward, remember: if you wish to insult someone, do so out of their range of hearing." As he says this last part he wiggles his finger above his head, on one side. Indicating my tall, fluffy-wuffy ears.

The green-faced guard immediately begins kow-towing.¹kow-tow is when you bow so low and fast that they can feel the floor vibrate from your forehead thumping it. like in the beginning of the movie 'Coming to America' or the end of original cartoon 'Mulan' It is mostly done either to show great respect or as a sincere apology 1, 2, 3. . 10.

K) "Good enough. Let's go."

Shortly after, we find the inn we used last time. The owner remembers us, but bans us from coming inside. I understand his concerns, if I was in charge I wouldn't let "problem customers" come back either.

So we begin looking around for a new inn to try. Most of them say they can't accommodate our mount. A tiger would frighten the horses most others use half to death. One says he doesn't want filthy mutts dirtying his business. The old me would have come back in the middle of the night to bust open some heads after such an insult. But this new and improved me has to maintain an image of a proper servant of Master. So I loudly counter that his business is not fit for us to stay in.

Another tea-time and 4 more rejections later, the proprietor of one inn suggests he knows an inn that can accommodate our mount. I thank him for his help with a gold tael. Just a few more minutes and we settle into an inn called the Jade Falcon. After a quick but decent bath, we sisters head back out for a restaurant. Leaving Lauhu behind, to be fed by the inn's staff.

Our noses lead us to a well-reputable looking shop, according to its sign, the brass bull kitchen. but then-

"Mutts like you can't afford to eat here! Leave before you infest our shop with fleas!" (raucous laughter)

K) "YOU MUST BE VERY OVERPRICED IF SOMEONE WHO CAN BUY OUT THE WHOLE STREET CAN'T AFFORD A SINGLE MEAL!! AND EVEN IF THERE WERE FLEAS, WITH BLOODSUCKING VERMIN LIKE YOURSELF AROUND, NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO NOTICE!!"

A few of their regulars stand up, scraping their chairs across the floor. Probably intending to scold me or chase me out. But they are stopped by a strange sound, as I squeeze the doorhandle into a twisted lump. They sit back down when they realize I'm at least a full Tier above them. In most cases, 3.

So just like when we were looking around for a decent tiger-friendly inn, now we have to look around for a decent beastkin-friendly restaurant. All the ones which failed to satisfy this condition will be needing a new doorhandle.

We didn't face these hardships when we were here the first time. But then again, we were travelling with 40-odd heavenly beauties the whole while.

Deciding we need a guide, I pick a random street urchin and promise a silver tael if he can guide us to a good restaurant which is also beastkin friendly. Reading this, you might wonder why I am being so stingy -you gave the innkeeper a gold tael, why not the kid too-. Because having more wealth than you can defend invites others to take it from you. Often by force. If we had offered gold, he would certainly have died tonight. Even if we were to renege on it later.

Not long after, we stop at a good smelling shop, the drunk rooster. Finding it to our liking, I hand over the silver and we part ways.

. . A good but otherwise uneventful meal later we are heading back to our inn when I hear the urchin's voice.

Child) "But I need it to buy my sister food."

Ruffian) "I don't care, I need it to pay for my wine."

A glance at my sisters Doko and Dare, along with 2 hand signs tells them to cut off escape routes. Then at Nani I sign her to stay, and remain vigilant. Our time as bandits wasn't completely wasted. Then I stroll up to the altercation in progress.

K) "A lot of people talk and act like beastkin are less than animals. But YOU actually ARE."

R) "You dare- Go teach this bitch some manners. Afterwards, we can have fun with her."

K) "And now you prove my point. Not only are you acting just like animals, you are less than them because even an animal can sense when they are overmatched."

Thug1) "Whatever. If you surrender, we won't have to hurt you. In fact we'll make you feel good all night."

Thug2) "Heh, Yeah!" By this time, most of the 12 alleyway robbers have surrounded me.

Thug3) "On your knees, bitch. Or else!"

K) "Knees it is then."

By this time, my sisters should have gone around to finish blocking their emergency exits. So by the time they realize they should run. . It already IS too late.

Using gale steps is a bit much for weaklings like this lot. Even without it, just by running, I'm practically dancing around our small battlefield. And each time I approach one of the thugs, I kick his feet out from under him, or snap *KRAK* his knee sideways. Or sometimes backwards. *KRAK!*

Quickly, they realize their mistake. The last 2 still on their feet, including the leader, run off where I expect Doko and Dare to be waiting, followed by one who was merely kicked down. The other 2 still capable of running head toward Nani. I follow the 3.

C) "Th- Thank you miss! But they'll blame me for this."

K) "Wait here just a bit."

I rush over to the end of the alley to find. .
*A CLIFFHANGER!*